Eckford, Robert Ivor Peter
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert Ivor Peter |
Surname | Eckford |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-02-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert D. S. Eckford and Violette M. Eckford, of Formby, Lancashire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | LM725 |
Markings | KO-X |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Haveluy Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph | EGO AUTEM IN INNOCENTIA MEA INGRESSUS SUM: REDIME ME, ET MISERERE MEI … (Latin: I in my innocence rescue me and show me) |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 159 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 2225711 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 115 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Lancaster Industrial Estate, Witchford, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Slate Tablets & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In honour of those who served during the Second World War 1939 - 1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/893/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/893/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-02-1945 |
End Date | 15-02-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Witchford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (8% moon) |
Operation | Chemnitz as a continuation of Operation Thunderclap. 717 aircraft, 13 lost. As with the raid on Dresden, this was a two-wave raid, 3 hours apart. A very elaborate diversion program kept fighters at bay but the target was cloud-covered so only sky-marking was possible. Most parts of the town were hit but many bombs fell in open country. No local report is available. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Haveluy, WSW of Valenciennes |